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Macro Systems has been serving the Metro Washington, DC area since 1997, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

Your Business Isn't Too Small to Be a Cybersecurity Target

Your Business Isn't Too Small to Be a Cybersecurity Target

“I don’t need to worry about cyberattacks… my business is too small to be of any interest.”

This brief rationalization is one of the most dangerous fallacies a modern business can make concerning cybersecurity; it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how modern cyberthreats operate. If this has been your mindset, we urge you to read on so we can help set you on a more realistic path.

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How to Spot and Deal with Sextortion Scams

How to Spot and Deal with Sextortion Scams

Sextortion scams are scary. The scammer contacts the victim, claiming to have gotten access to their computer and captured video footage of their target engaging in some private and decidedly adult activities, as well as the content that was onscreen at the time. The threat: pay up, or I send the footage to all of your contacts.

However, lately hackers have added another layer of “proof” to these claims, now referring to victims by name and including pictures of their homes. Listed below are what one of these scams looks like and what you should do if one appears in your inbox.

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The Largest Data Breaches of 2024 So Far

The Largest Data Breaches of 2024 So Far

Data breaches remain a constant threat that cause serious disruptions for businesses and potentially creating widespread issues for customers. Highlighted below are some of the largest and most impactful breaches of 2024.

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Signs that You are Being Scammed

Signs that You are Being Scammed

Being scammed in any capacity is a scary thought. To avoid this outcome, we must be vigilant all the time now.

Naturally, it also helps to know what to look for.

Listed below are a few warning signs and red flags that something is likely a scam.

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Best Practices to Avoid Getting Hacked

Best Practices to Avoid Getting Hacked

Data breaches can cripple organizations and can come from a lot of different directions. They can be the result of phishing attacks where your staff unwittingly gives hackers access to your business’ resources. It can come from a brute force attack where hackers use innovative tools to break into your network. It can even be the work of disgruntled employees who use their access to steal company data. Listed below are the top three things you can do to keep your business from being hacked. 

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Ransomware Will Hinder Consumer Trust

Ransomware Will Hinder Consumer Trust

One of the worst things that can happen to any organization is to be infiltrated with ransomware. Ransomware is a strain of malware that allows hackers to lock down files or computing systems and then ransom access back to the organization. It can really be a problem.

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The Story of a Guy Who Scams the Scammers

The Story of a Guy Who Scams the Scammers

When you think of a scammer, you probably think of someone looking to take advantage of someone for their own gain. While this isn’t exactly inaccurate, another variety exists to acknowledge… those who aim to scam the scammers. Listed below is the story of one such white-hat scammer, or “scam baiter,” a content creator who uses the alias “Kitboga,” Kit for short.

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Ticketmaster Got Hacked

Ticketmaster Got Hacked

The world’s largest ticket retailer is in the headlines for the wrong reasons after their parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, filed an 8-K filing with the Security and Exchange commission admitting that they had been hacked to the tune of 1.3 terabytes of information. That amounts to 560 million customers’ personal information that has been stolen from the company’s servers. Listed below is a look at the hack and what it means for consumers.

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Explaining Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

Explaining Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

Have you heard of the “man-in-the-middle” attack or MitM? It’s a situation where your data is stolen by an onlooker who situates themselves in the right place at the right time. Data interception is a very real thing that your organization should be prepared to fight against. Listed below are some strategies you can use to counter these sneaky attacks.

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4 Crucial Cybersecurity Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make

4 Crucial Cybersecurity Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make

When considering your organization’s cybersecurity, it is imperative not to lose sight of the forest for the trees… or, in other words, not to forget the basics around which the rest of your protections are built.

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Online Holiday Shopping Cyberattack Trends

Online Holiday Shopping Cyberattack Trends

Unfortunately, some of the biggest retail days of the year are some of the biggest days for scams, the entire holiday season seeing an increase in threats toward retailers and, as a result, the consumers that are just looking for that perfect gift for their loved ones. Listed below are some statistics and trends to see what insights we can glean.

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Social Media is Full of Cyber Scams

Social Media is Full of Cyber Scams

Social media scams encompass fraudulent activities and deceptive schemes that occur across numerous social media platforms. These scams target users on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and various others, irrespective of their age or background. They exploit individuals' trust, curiosity, or lack of awareness. Social media scams manifest in various forms, and the following are some common examples.

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Cyber Security Mistakes You Should Watch Out for

Cyber Security Mistakes You Should Watch Out for

While it is imperative that your business implement comprehensive network protections, there are plenty of simple ways that your business’ cybersecurity could potentially fail. This could easily cost you heavily in your available capital, financial and social alike.

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Voicemail Phishing Scams

Voicemail Phishing Scams

Phishing attacks have been prominent in cybercrime the past few years, not only due to their efficacy but also because there are so many avenues wherein phishing can be attempted. The first that comes to mind is email, naturally, but you and your team need to keep these others in mind.

Take, for example, a phishing voicemail…dubbed, naturally, a “phoicemail.”

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3 Network Protections All Businesses Should Have

3 Network Protections All Businesses Should Have

Last week, we went over why your organization's cybersecurity processes need to include training. This time around, we wanted to focus on the other side of things, focusing on the essential network protections that no modern business should be operating without.

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T-Mobile’s Data Breach History

T-Mobile’s Data Breach History

It hasn’t been very long since T-Mobile experienced its latest cyber attack, but alas, here we are again. Hackers have again accessed customer data, with 37 million customers being affected amongst both their prepaid and subscription-based accounts.

Listed below is an explanation of the situation, and what can be learned from it.

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Basic Ways of Protecting Your Business from Hackers

Basic Ways of Protecting Your Business from Hackers

While many small businesses shrug off cybersecurity needs as too costly an investment for an organization of their size, this is a potentially catastrophic mistake. The fact of the matter is that small businesses are regularly targeted by cyberattacks, making the aforementioned cybersecurity needs even more needed.

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What Your Business Needs to Know about Zero-Day Exploits

What Your Business Needs to Know about Zero-Day Exploits

With countless threats out in the world, it’s no surprise that some of them go after undiscovered vulnerabilities. These kinds of threats utilize what are called zero-day exploits to make attempts at your sensitive data and technology infrastructure. What is it about zero-day exploits that you must keep in mind during your day-to-day operations and in planning for the future?

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What You Need to Know about Business Email Compromise

What You Need to Know about Business Email Compromise

Sometimes the most dangerous scams out there are the simplest ones. Hackers don’t require a fancy or complicated malware or algorithm to create chaos for your business; all they have to do is convince you that the email you’ve received in your inbox is from someone of authority within your business. Listed below: how a business email compromise is pulled off and why you need to be wary of threats like these.

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Cybercrime Continues to Evolve

Cybercrime Continues to Evolve

Consider this scenario: you’re going about your daily tasks when you receive an email from a cybersecurity company claiming that you have become the target of a hacking attack. You don’t work in IT, so you’re not sure what your security agency is or what security policies or procedures you have in place, so you trust the message and respond to the email. Alas, the message came from a cyberthreat, and now you are on their hook, line and sinker.

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